Cartridge holder

ABSTRACT

A HOLDER FOR SELECTIVELY STORING AND PRESENTING A PLURALITY OF CARTRIDGES, SUCH AS CASSETTE CARTRIDGES AND THE LIKE. THE HOLDER INCLUDES A HOUSING AND A CARRIER REMOVABLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSING TO STORE CARTRIDGES IN THE HOUSING IN A CLOSED ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOLDER AND TO SELECTIVELY PRESENT THE CARTRIDGES FOR FACILITATED REMOVAL AND PLACEMENT INTO THE CARRIER IN AN OPEN ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOLDER. THE CARRIER AND HOUSING ARE ARRANGED TO DISPOSE THE CARRIER IN AN UPWARDLY TILTED DISPOSITION IN THE OPEN ARRANGEMENT AND IN A POSITION EFFECTIVELY CLOSING THE FRONT OPENING OF THE HOUSING IN THE CLOSED ARRANGEMENT.

May 0, 1972 s. J. szToRc CARTRIDGE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1970 Ina/e721? 71 5&2 Jjgibrc, I I, I I *WeMQa United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for selectively storing and presenting a plurality of cartridges, such as cassette cartridges and the like. The holder includes a housing and a carrier removably associated with the housing to store cartridges in the housing in a closed arrangement of the holder and to selectively present the cartridges for facilitated. removal and placement itno the carrier in an open arrangement of the holder. The carrier and housing are arranged to dispose the carrier in an upwardly tilted disposition in the open arrangement and in a position effectively closing the front opening of the housing in the closed arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Y Field of the invention I This invention relates to storage holders and in particular to storage holders for use with cartridges such as cassette cartridges and the like.

Description of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved holder for selectively storing and presenting a plurality of cartridges such as cassette cartridges and the like.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such a holder having a housing provided with a front opening. A carrier is arranged to carry a plurality of cassette cartridges or the like. The carrier and housing ice BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a plurality of cartridge holders embodying the invention in stacked association and with the carriers thereof arranged in an open disposition presenting the cassette cartridges for removal and return to the holder; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder in the storage disposition; Y

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the stacked arrangement of holders of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

- FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; l

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 with the carrier in the storage disposition;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the mounting of the upper holder on the lower holder;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the stacked holders of FIG. 1 with the carriers in the open disposition;

FIG..10 is a fragmentary rear elevation taken substantially along the line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary substantially vertical section taken substantially along the line 1111 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary substantially vertical section taken substantially along the line 1212 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a holder generally designated 10 such asvfor use in selectively storing and presenting for are arranged so that the carrier may be installed in the housing with the cartridges effectively enclosed therein in a storage disposition.

The carrier is further arranged to be mounted in the housing. in an open disposition wherein the cartridges are presented for facilitated removal and return by the user.

In the open disposition, the carrier is automatically disposed in a forwardly upwardly inclined arrangement, facilitating the manipulation of the cartridges by the user.

The carrier is selectively manipulated to the respective open and storage dispositions by ready manipulation of the carrier relative to the housing. The housing may be provided with recess and aperture means permitting access to portions of the carrier for facilitating such manipulation of the carrier. Cooperating shoulder means on the housing and carrier provide for automatic positioning of the carrier relative to the housing in each of the open and storage dispositions facilitating the use of the holder.

The holder may be formed of molded plastic or the like and is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

use a plurality of cartridges such as cassettes 11, is shown to include a housing 12 and a carrier 13 removably asso- .ciated with the housing. Carrier 13 may be associated with housing 12 selectively in a storage disposition, as

shown in FIG. 2, and in an open disposition, as shown in FIG. 1. As further shown in FIG. 1, the holders are arranged to be vertically stacked as desired.

,As seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, housing 12 includes a bottom wall 14, a pair of upstanding end. walls 15 and 16, a top wall 17, and a rear wall 18. Bottom wall 14, end walls 15 and 16, and top wall 17 cooperatively define a front opening 19 through which the carrier is removably in stalled in the space 20 within the housing. As shown in FIG. 6, bottom wall 14 may be provided with a depending outturned flange 21 and top wall 17 may be provided with an upstanding inturned flange 22. As shown in FIG. 7, flanges 21 and 22 selectively fit to effectively mount an upper holder 10' to a lower holder 10 in the stacked .arrangement of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 9, lower flange 21 includes a front portion 23 which abuts a front portion 24 of upper flange 22 to position the stacked holders in vertically aligned association.

Carrier 13 includes bottom wall 25 and an upright edge wall 26. In the storage disposition of FIG. 6, edge wall 26 comprises the front wall of the carrier effectively closing housing opening 19. In the open disposition of the holder as shown in FIG. 9, the edge wall 26 comprises the rear wall of the carrier cooperating with bottom wall 25 to support the cassettes in the carrier. As shown in FIG. 9, the carrier is disposed in a forwardly upwardly inclined arrangement in the open disposition for facilitated rerier. inhousing 12.

Carrier 13 further includes a of upright dividers 27 extending upwardly" from bottom wall 25 to a mid-portion of edge wall 26. 'I'ltteidividers 'efiectively divide the space defined by bottom wall 25 and edge wall 26 of. the carrier into a plurality of compartments 28 adapted to receive one each a cartridge 11.

As indicated briefly above, the holder may be inexpensively formed. of, molded plastic and, thus, dividers 27 may be molded integrally with the carrier walls 25 :and 26.: The carrier may-further be provided with a pair .of opposite end-walls 29.and-30 ,which extend from bottom wall 25 substantially to the top of edge wall 26 as best seenin FIGS. 6 and9; Housing end walls 15 and I6 may each be provided with a forwardly opening recess. 31eX- posing a portion'oflcarrier end walls 29and 30 for-inanual grapsing of the carrier for use in moving the carrier betweenlthe' storage disposition of FIG. 6 and open disposition of FIG.- 9. As shownin FIGS; 1,:6and' 9, the carrier end walls 29 and 30 include'forwardly projecting upper end portions 32.

bestsee'n in FIGS. 4 and, end walls 29 and 30 are. provided with bosses 33 which project into corresponding openings 34 in housing end walls and 16 when the carrier is'disposed in the storage disposition. As shown-in FIG. 12, Lbosses 33 merely-ride on the inner surface of housing end walls 15 and 16 in the dispositions of the carrier within the housing. Thus, bosses 33 and openings '34 cooperatively define means for elfectively releasably holding the carrier in the storage disposition against inadvertent opening of the holder while yet permitting facilitated movement of the carrier to and from the storage disposition by the user when desired.

As indicated briefly above, the housing and carrier are provided with means for automatically positioning the holder within the housing in each of the storage and open dispositions. Thus, as seen in FIG. Sfhousing bottom wall 14 may be provided with an upstanding shoulder 35 adjacent rear wall 18 for abutment'bythe front edge 36 of carrier bottom wall when the carrier is installed in the housing in the storage disposition. In this disposition','edge wall 26 is automatcally disposed flush acrossfront opening 19of the housing. 'Ihe'portion of 1..

The use of holders 10 is extremely simple. The user merelyslides the desired cassettes into the carrier cornpartments 28 to the inserted disposition illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the cassettes rest on the carrier bottom wall 25 and upright wall 26. In the open disposition of FIG. 1, the cassettes project forwardly from the holder for facilitated use. Further, the carrier is automatically disposed in, a fforwardly upwardly inclined-disposition to further facilitatethe manipulation ofthe cassettes. The carrier is installedin the housing by-a simple insertion thereof through front open'ing 19 of. housing 12 until carrier portion 38 abuts shoulder 37 and 'carrierportion 41 abuts shoulder 40in the fully inserted arrangement of When it is desired to close the holder with the cassettesisto'red therein, the user merely-removes the carrier'from the housing by suitable forward urging of the carrier by the users fingers inserted through the openings 44. Upon separation of the carrier from" the housing, the carrier is reversely-posi'tioned and reinserted through the housing opening 19 to the position of .FIG'. 2.- The carrier is automaticallylocated in-the storage disposition bythe abutment'of'carrier portion 36 with housing shoulder 35, as shown in FIG. 5. To remove the carrier from the storage disposition, the' user similarly inserts his fingers through openings 44 to release the carrier from the locking means 33, 44 and urge it forward through housing opening 19. V H Y e As thholder may be formed by moldinggall of the elements associated with housing 12 may be formed integrally therewith and all the elements associated with carrier 13'may be formed integrally therewith whereby the holder eifectiv'ely comprises a two-piece structure of effectively maximized simplicity and economy of construction.

The foregoingdisclosure of specifie embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention. a

I' claim: I

1." A holder for selectively storingand presenting a plurality ofcartridges and the like, comprising: a housing having a bottom'wall, .upstanding end walls, atoppwall, and a rear wall, .said 'housing'defining a front opening; a carrierhaving a'bottom wall and an upright edge wall cooperatively defining a receiving space, and-a plurality of upright dividers dividing said space into .a plurality of compartments adapted to receive a cassette and means on said housing and carrier for disposing the carrier in a forwardly upwardly tilted open disposition within'the carrier with said edge Wall rearmost thereby to present the casward inclination of the carrier. Further, the upper edge 1.

39 of the end walls 29 and 30 of the carrier may substantially abut the underside of the housing top wall 17 in theinclined disposition. Bottom Wall 14 of Housing 12 may be further provided with upstanding'shoulders 4 0 adapted to be engaged by "the lower end 4116f edge wall 26 as; shown in' FIG. 9, to limit the inwardmovement of the lower edge 41 and thereby automatically dispose the carrier in the inclined open disposition for facilitated handling of the ;cassettes carried thereby. .As'best se'en in 15168.4 and"6,' carrier bottom wall 25 is'providedwith recesses 42 which accommodate the shoulders Allin the storage disposition of the carrier. I As shown in FIG. 3, housing rear wall '18 may 'befpr'oyided with a pair of slots 43 suitable for use in anging the holder on a wall support as desired. "3

-As"further shown in FIGS. 3fand 4,"th'-rea'r 'wall is provided with a pair of openings 44 adjacent the"side walls :15 and 16 permitting the user to insert liis' iingers therethrough to urge the carrier forwardly frorn' the storage means defined bosses Shandopnings 34 I disposition against the holding aetio'n of the retraining l A holder for selectively storing settes in said compartments for facilitated removal and permit facilitated placement into said compartments and to-efiectively removablyretain the cassettes pocketed therein, said carrier being reversely receivable within said housing withsaid-edgewall forwardmost ina storage dispositio'nthereby to close. said front'opening with the cartridgesstored within said-housing, said housing having a forwardly opening recess opening to said front opening disposed to expose a portion'of the. carrier when the carrier is in said storage position for facilitated manipulation of the" carrier relative to the housing. 2. The'cartridge holder of claiml wherein said carrier portion defines grasping means for manipulating the carrier'in'toand from the-housing. t 3." The cartridgeholder ofclaim'2'wherein said at least one housing end wall front edge is recessed and said grasping means comprises endmeans on the carrier exposed through said end wall recess in each'of said open and storage dispositions. I I and presenting a plurality of cartridges and thelike, comprising:

a housing having-a bottom wall; upstanding end walls,

' atop wall and area wall, said housingv defining a 7 front opening;

[ acarrier havin'g'a'bottom wall and an upright edge wall I cooperatively defining a receiving space, and a plurality of upright dividers dividing said space into a plurality of compartments adapted to receive a cassette; and

means on said housing and carrier for disposing the includes stop means for limiting the movement of said carrier inwardly through said housing opening to dispose said edge wall flush with said top and bottom front edges when said carrier is in said storage disposition.

9. A holder for selectively storing and presenting a carrier in a forwardly upwardly tilted open disposiplurality of cartridges and the like, comprising: tion within the carrier with said edge wall rearmost a housing having a bottom wall, upstanding end walls, thereby to present the cassettes in said compartments a top wall and a rear wall, said housing defining a for facilitated removal andpermit facilitated placefront opening; ment into said compartments and to effectively rea carrier having a bottom wall and an upright edge movably retain the cassettes pocketed therein, said 10 wall cooperatively defining a receiving space, and carrier being reversely receivable within said housing a plurality of upright dividers dividing said space with said edge wall forwardmost in a storage disposiinto a plurality of compartments adapted to receive tion thereby to close said front opening with the cara cassette; and fridges Stored Within Said housing, aid h ing 6 d means on said housing and carrier for disposing the walls being provided with recesses extending rearcarrier in a forwardly upwardly tilted open disposiwardly from said front opening and said grasping tion within the carrier with said edge wall rearmost means comprising means on said carrier exposed thereby to present the cassettes in said compartments through said recesses. for facilitated removal and permit facilitated place- 5. The cartridge holder of claim 4 wherein said graspment into said compartments and to effectively reing means comprises end wall portions on said carrier. movably retain the cassettes pocketed therein, said 6. A holder for selectively storing and presenting a plucarrier being reversely receivable within said housing rality of cartridges and the like, comprising: with said edge wall forwardmost in a storage disposia housing having a bottom wall, upstanding end walls, a tion thereby to close said front opening with the top wall and a rear wall, said housing defining a front cartridges stored within said housing, said housing opening; top wall being forwardly upwardly inclined adjacent a carrier having a bottom wall and an upright edge wall said opening.

cooperatively defining a receiving space, and a plu- 10. A holder for selectively storing and presenting a rality of upright dividers dividing said space into a plurality of cartridges and the like, comprising: plurality of compartments adapted to receive a casa housing having a bottom wall, upstanding end walls, sette; and a top wall and a rear wall, said housing defining a means on said housing and carrier for disposing the front opening;

carrier in a forwardly upwardly tilted open disposia carrier having a bottom wall and an upright edge tion within the carrier with said edge wall rearmost wall cooperatively defining a receiving space, and a thereby to present the cassettes in said compartments plurality of upright dividers dividing said space into for facilitated removal and permit facilitated placea plurality of compartments adapted to receive a ment into said compartments and to effectively recassette; and movably retain the cassettes pocketed therein, said means on said housing and carrier for disposing the carrier being reversely receivable within said houscarrier in a forwardly upwardly tilted open disposiing with said edge wall forwardmost in a storage distion, within the carrier with said edge wall rearmost position thereby to close said front opening with the thereby to present the cassettes in said compartments cartridges stored within said housing, said housing for facilitated removal and permit facilitated placebeing provided with shoulders at the top rear thereof, ment into said compartments and to effectively reand said carrier being provided with abutment means movably retain the cassettes packeted therein, said removably engaging said shoulders in said open discarrier being reversely receivable within said housing position to retain the carrier in said tilted disposition With Said edge Wall forwardmost in a Storage p in the housing. tion thereby to close said front opening with the 7. A holder for selectively storing and presenting a plu- Cartridges stofqd Within Said housing, Said carrier rality f cartridges and the like, comprising; bottom wall being provided with a rearwardly opena housing having a bottom wall, upstanding end walls, mg r'ecess, a sald housmg q carrier being a top ll and a rear wall, said housing d fi i a provided w th a shoulder for limiting the insertion from opening; of sa1d carrler into the housing said open disposia carrier having a bottom wall and an upright edge tron, sald sho ulder being received in said recess when wall cooperatively defining a receiving space, and a said carrier 1s disposed in said storage dlSPOSltlOII. plurality of upright dividers dividing said space into holder selecnvely ,stormg Presentmg a a plurality of compartments adapted to receive a cas- Plurahty camfdges and the llke COmPnQmg: sette; and a houslng having a bottom wall, upstanding end walls, means on said housing and carrier for disposing the cara top Wall and a .rear wall sald hqusmg walls havmg rier in a forwardly upwardly tilted open disposition from; edges.defimng a from openmg; within the carrier with said edge wall rearmost therea earner havmg a bottom? Wall upnght edge by to present the cassettes in said compartments for g f gfi ig a i F i i a facilitated removal and permit facilitated placement p ig t m t s Space. Into into said compartments and to effectively removably 2 2 33 5 compartmen S a ap e to recelve a 5:12:3255 52::gig fig gg fi igg$31223; means on said housing and carrier for disposing the edge wall forwardmost in a stora e dis osi tio therea forward-1y up-wardiy tilted Open disposib t l f t g 2 n tion within the carrier with said edge wall rearmost y o 6 9 Ion W1 cal-tr} gas thereby to present the cassettes in said compartments stored wlthm 531d housmg Sald housmg mcludmg a for facilitated removal and permit facilitated placefirst shoulder at the top rear thereof and f seco'nd ment into said compartments and to effectively reshoulder at the bottom front thereof, and said carrier movably retain the cassettes pocketed therein, said belQg p y Wllh P f means removably carrier being reversely receivable within said housing gasmg Sald Shoulders 111 531d p disposition to with said edge wall forwardmost in a storage disposi- P the carrier ill Said tilted disposition ill the hOuS- tion substantially flush with the said front edges of 111gthe bottom and top housing walls thereby to close 8. The cartrldge holder of claim 4 wherein said housing said front opening with the cartridges stored within said housing.

12. The cartridge holder of claim 11 wherein said housing is provided with a shoulder at the bottom front thereof, and said carrier is provided with abutment means remova'bly engaging said shoulder in said open disposition to retain the carrier in said tilted disposition in the hous- 1 13. The cartridge holder of claim 11 wherein said carrier and at least one housing end wall are provided with releasable holding means for preventing inadvertent opening of the holder when the carrier is installed in the housing in the storage disposition.

14. The cartridge holder of claim 11 wherein said compartments have a depth preselected to cause the cartridges to project forwardly outwardly therefrom when the cartridges are receivedtherein.

15. The cartridge holder of claim 11 wherein said carrier includes upright end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall to substantially the level of the top of said edge wall.

16. The cartridge holder of claim 11 wherein said housing bottom and top walls are provided with interlock means for releasably looking a second such. holder onto the top of a first such holder to provide a stacked arrangement of said first and second holders.

I i 1, References Cited g STATES PATENTS I UbllTED 7 3,167,180 1/1965 -Kremp 206-4520 2,321,794 6/1943 Braun- 312-40 x 2,730,423 1/1956 Mock- 1; 312-448 3,506,321 4/1970 Hampel 312 111 3,072,280 1/1963 Spadaro s12 10 x 3,287,075 11/1966 Batke et al.-; 312'=l11 X 3,385,643 5/1968 Adell a 312 -10 x v3,415,585 12/1968 Morris a 312-'-10x JAMES T. McCALL; Primary Examiner ii us. 2C1. XR. V 

